Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a form of home dialysis that allows you to be independent, with more control over your schedule, including the flexibility, to a certain extent, to do your dialysis when it’s convenient for you. You have the freedom of performing your PD at home, at work or even in a hotel room when traveling. There are fewer dietary restrictions than traditional hemodialysis, and PD patients often feel better overall.

PD is a continuous form of home dialysis, performed daily. This form of dialysis requires surgical placement of a removable catheter into the abdominal cavity. Dialysis fluid is then drained from and introduced into the abdominal cavity via the catheter. These exchanges of fluid are made several times daily, either manually by the patient during the day, or via an automated cycler machine at night.

Before starting peritoneal dialysis at home, a PD nurse will train you to do PD on your own. Training usually takes a few weeks, when coming 3 times per week for a few hours per session, although training times vary by patient. After completing the training and starting PD at home on your own, you will need to return to the peritoneal dialysis center once a month for a check-up with the PD team. Patients, their families or caregivers, can all be trained to perform PD safely at home.

PD is also available for children with kidney failure, and Rogosin staff works closely with pediatric nephrologists to provide dialysis training for the patients and / or parents, depending on the age of the patient.

For more information on peritoneal dialysis, contact one of our dialysis centers: